_ _______ _ ...:... _ _______ _ ___ / .:::::::::::. \ ___ | / .. (:::::::::::::) .. \ | | . .:::::.`:::::::::::'.:::::. . | | .::.. `:::.::':::`::.:::' ..::. | _ _______ | .::' ::::':::::`:::: `::. | _______ _ \\ | | :: `' ::':`:: `' :: | | // \ | | `:. .::' . `::. .:' | | / . | | .::::::..::::' ... `::::..::::::. | | . | | `:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::' | | .... | | `:' `::::: :: :: :::::' `:' | | .... | ' | : `. ': :: :: :: :: :` .' : | ` | |.....: . .......: :: :: :: :: : ...... . : ....| . ...................: : :: :: :: :: : : ................. . _____________:_____________ _____________:_____________ _ ___\` __ /_\` _______/_\` __ _/_\` /___ _ // __ / (/ ___/ (/ _ (/ /_______/\ _ _ /_________ ___________ ______/\ _ ______________/\__/_ _ \\\\\_________\__/\_________\__/\_____/\_____/\____________/ /// - -\-\-----------\__/----------\__/-------\_____/---------------/-/- - - -------------------: : :. ..:: :: . :------------------ - : : :......: :: :` ': :: : .....: : : ___ _ | | : ` ' : | | _ ___ _\---------- : | -------- : B E R C : -------- | : ----------/_ /_\ . : . ..:.. ..:.. . : . /_\ /// . . : : . . \\\ /: :\ /:: Artist :: Soulfly ::\ :: Album :: Chama :: :: Year :: 2025 :: :: __ _ _ __ :: -:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:- :: \ / :: :: . Genre :: Metal Source :: CD . :: :: Label :: Shinigami Records R.date :: 2025-12-03 :: _::__ Cat.nr. :: NBSR500 S.date :: 2025-10-24 __::_ ::// \\:: ::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\:: :: :: /: Encoder :: LAME 3.100 -V0 :\ ..: Bitrate :: avg. 272kbps :.. . Quality :: 44.1 kHz/Joint Stereo . . Size :: 66.55 MB . . . __ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __ .\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////. +/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+ /: . : : . :\ /:: ::\ :: 1. Indigenous Inquisition 2:01 :: :: 2. Storm the Gates 2:41 :: :: 3. Nihilist 2:46 :: :: 4. No Pain = No Power 3:57 :: :: 5. Ghenna 1:55 :: :: 6. Black Hole Scum 4:30 :: :: 7. Favela / Dystopia 3:18 :: :: 8. Always Was, Always Will Be... 3:27 :: :: 9. Soulfly XIII 3:43 :: :: 10. Chama 4:09 :: :: :: :: :: :: ------- :: .. >> 32:27 .. __ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __ .\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////. +/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+ /: . : : . :\ /:: ::\ :: :: :: ThereÆs a particular moment early in Max CavaleraÆs career :: :: trajectory where everything crystallizesùwhere the raw fury and :: :: indigenous rhythmic sensibilities that have always lurked :: :: beneath the surface of his compositions suddenly burst through :: :: with undeniable purpose. SoulflyÆs latest offering, ôChama,ö :: :: represents precisely that kind of artistic crystallization, a :: :: record that doesnÆt so much arrive as it erupts from the studio :: :: with a primal ferocity that makes you question whether the band :: :: has ever truly abandoned their most essential instincts. :: :: :: :: From the opening moments, it is abundantly clear that Soulfly :: :: has crafted something that demands immediate attention. The :: :: production aesthetic here is distinctly different from some of :: :: their more recent efforts. Rather than opting for an overly :: :: polished approach, the band has embraced a sonic palette that :: :: feels simultaneously raw and refinedùa delicate balance that :: :: few contemporary metal acts even attempt anymore. Every :: :: instrument occupies its own distinct space in the mix, yet :: :: there is a cohesive sensibility that suggests meticulous :: :: diligence during the recording process. :: :: :: :: CavaleraÆs approach to the vocal performance across ôChamaö :: :: deserves particular mention. His delivery spans a remarkable :: :: range, from guttural utterances that sound like they are :: :: emerging from somewhere deep within the earth itself to :: :: cleaner, almost contemplative passages that emphasize melody :: :: without sacrificing intensity. :: :: :: :: There is a confidence here that comes from decades of :: :: perfecting a craft, yet the artist never sounds complacent. :: :: Instead, he sounds genuinely invested in expressing something :: :: that feels urgent and immediate. :: :: :: :: The guitar work throughout the album highlights a fascinating :: :: duality. On one hand, there are moments of absolutely :: :: devastating heavy riffingùthick, substantial tones that feel :: :: physically present and impossible to ignore. These sequences :: :: serve as anchor points, creating frameworks upon which the band :: :: can construct their more exploratory passages. Yet what makes :: :: ôChamaö particularly engaging is the willingness to venture :: :: beyond simple heaviness into territories that require genuine :: :: compositional sophistication. Melodic elements weave through :: :: tracks in unexpected ways, creating hooks that lodge themselves :: :: in your consciousness long after the album has finished :: :: playing. :: :: :: :: The rhythm section deserves commendation as well. Rather than :: :: defaulting to standard metal percussion patterns, the band :: :: embraces a dynamic approach that incorporates tribal and world :: :: music influences in ways that never feel gratuitous or :: :: superficial. ThereÆs genuine musicianship at work here, an :: :: understanding that groove and heaviness are fundamentally :: :: different properties that can coexist beautifully when managed :: :: with appropriate care. The bass work underpins everything with :: :: a clarity thatÆs increasingly rare in modern metal production, :: :: ensuring that nothing gets lost in the mix despite the albumÆs :: :: densely layered arrangements. :: :: :: :: What strikes most forcefully about ôChamaö is its thematic :: :: coherence. This isnÆt a collection of disparate songs gathered :: :: together; instead, it functions as a cohesive artistic :: :: statement with a clear philosophical through-line. The :: :: exploration of cultural identity, spiritual themes, and the :: :: intersection between Indigenous traditions and contemporary :: :: metal aesthetics feels organic rather than calculated. Cavalera :: :: and his collaborators are not simply appropriating cultural :: :: elements for shock value or aesthetic flavourùthere is a depth :: :: of engagement that suggests genuine reverence for these :: :: influences. :: :: :: :: For longtime Soulfly observers, ôChamaö represents a :: :: particularly gratifying development. This is a band that has :: :: always possessed the capacity for artistic adventure, yet they :: :: have sometimes struggled to fully reconcile their various :: :: influences into coherent wholes. Here, those elementsùmetal :: :: brutality, rhythmic sophistication, spiritual exploration, and :: :: melodic sensibilityùachieve something approaching perfect :: :: synthesis. The album suggests a band that has finally :: :: discovered the precise equilibrium between these competing :: :: impulses. :: :: :: :: That said, this is not an album designed for universal :: :: palatability. Those approaching metal from a purely commercial :: :: perspective might find ôChamaö occasionally challenging or :: :: indulgent. The tribal and world music elements, while :: :: brilliantly integrated, occupy sufficient space that some :: :: listeners accustomed to straightforward metal songwriting might :: :: require an adjustment period. Furthermore, CavaleraÆs vocal :: :: approach, while compelling, remains decidedly non-traditional :: :: and could potentially alienate those seeking more :: :: conventionally ômetalö vocal delivery. These are not weaknesses :: :: preciselyùtheyÆre more accurately described as artistic choices :: :: that naturally circumscribe the albumÆs potential audience. :: :: :: :: Yet for listeners willing to invest the necessary attention, :: :: ôChamaö offers profound rewards. This is an album that reveals :: :: new dimensions with repeated listening, where subtle :: :: instrumental details and lyrical nuances continue emerging even :: :: after multiple encounters. The compositional sophistication :: :: ensures that casual background listening yields only :: :: surface-level appreciation; this record demands active :: :: engagement and rewards that investment generously. :: :: :: :: In conclusion, ôChamaö represents Soulfly operating at or :: :: extremely near their highest level. This is a record that :: :: refuses categorization, which demands respect for its artistic :: :: ambition while maintaining the visceral power that defines the :: :: finest metal music. ItÆs simultaneously brutal and beautiful, :: :: complex yet viscerally engaging, culturally respectful yet :: :: utterly contemporary. For fans of challenging metal that :: :: aspires to genuine artistic expression, ôChamaö stands as :: :: essential listening. For those curious about where heavy music :: :: ventures when artists refuse to acknowledge artificial :: :: limitations, this record provides a compelling roadmap. :: :: :: :: Max himself stated, ôIÆm excited to present to longtime SOULFLY :: :: fans, a revival of our original sound. CHAMA is full of heavy :: :: tribal grooves and ripping fast riffs too. WeÆve continued :: :: experimenting with different sounds while retaining the heart :: :: and soul that makes SOULFLY what it is. We hope this album :: :: brings veteran fans and new fans together to enjoy the new :: :: tracks. We hope to see you in the pit around the world.ö :: :: :: :: . _ _ . :: \: :. \\ ___________ . ___________ // .: :/ __\____ :: ____ ___\ _ / BERC : 2025 \ _ /___ ____ :: ____/__ \\\f3! :: \\\ __ _/_________i_________\ /___/ /// :: cRO/// \ :: :\-\___________\_ ___ / _ _/___________/-/: :: / :: | . . _ _ _/ __/ . \_ _ _ . . | :: : :::::::: | | \\\\\/ _______\____|\ \///// | | :::::::: : :: | | -\-\/____/-------------\____\/-/- | | :: :: | | \ :|: / | | :: : : | . ` ::: ' . | : : . . | : ::: : | . . | :::....:::....::: | : ::::::::::::::::: : . :::''``:::''``::: . : ::: : . ::: . .:. :